“Ethan?” she murmured, sleep so tantalizingly close she let her lids drift shut.
“Yeah?”
“It isn’t that I don’t want to transform so we can be together.”
The hand that had been stroking her arm fell still.
“It’s that I’m afraid I pose a threat to you. We still don’t know why Gershom messed with my head.” A yawn stole her voice. “Or if he plans to do it again. Or if I would even be able to tell if he did.”
“Heather . . .”
“I love you. But if I stay with you, he’ll”—another yawn shook her—“always be able to use me . . . against you.”
Darkness rose around her and drew her into its soundless embrace.
Ethan’s heart pounded in his chest as he listened to Heather’s breath deepen with sleep. It sounded as though she wished to be transformed. As if she wanted to become immortal so she could be with him. Forever.
Forever was a long damned time for immortals and could be daunting when faced alone. But Ethan would embrace it eagerly if he had Heather at his side.
He let himself imagine it for a moment. Let warmth invade his chest and excitement stir in his veins as he pictured spending a thousand lifetimes with the woman snuggled up against him.
Ethan didn’t think he had ever wanted anything more.
He drew her closer.
Although perhaps he did want something more.
He wanted Seth and Zach to find Gershom and cut his fucking heart out so Heather could abandon her fears and feel free to become immortal.
He pursed his lips.
And so they could prevent Armageddon, of course.
Perhaps, he thought wryly, the fact that Armageddon came in second was an indication of how much he loved Heather and wanted to spend the rest of eternity with her.
Pressing a kiss to her soft, damp hair, he closed his eyes and let a deep healing sleep claim him.
Seth had thought he had his hands full shielding the three battles they had fought tonight from the public and authorities. That ended up being nothing, however, compared to trying to assuage David’s fury over Gershom having sent vampires to attack his home.
David’s temper didn’t erupt often. But when it did, it rivaled Seth’s.
Like children trying to avoid a spanking, the immortals and their Seconds had all skedaddled to their rooms, leaving Seth to try to calm his friend’s ire. Not an easy task, since Seth battled his own fury over the brush with danger Ami and Adira had experienced.
He eyed the rubble around him. The house was a shambles, the furniture reduced to splinters, every window shattered. It looked even worse in the morning sunlight.
Knowing the immortals and their Seconds needed rest, Chris had told Seth he wouldn’t send the full force of his cleanup crew out to right the damage until nightfall.
“My home, Seth!” David continued to rage. “My homes have always been off limits!”
“I know. He did it to send us a message.”
“That all bets are off!” David thundered.
Seth again examined the scarlet-stained debris around him.
After this, they sure as hell were.
Seth. Zach spoke in his mind.
Yes?
I think I’ve found him.
“Zach is summoning me,” Seth told David, interrupting his tirade. “He thinks he’s found the one who tried to harm Adira.”
David’s glowing amber eyes met his. “Bury him, Seth.”
He nodded. That was the plan.
When Seth teleported to Zach’s side, he found himself in a familiar place he had not expected.
The two of them stood alone in a clearing, the darkness of night replacing morning.
No clouds hid the plethora of stars above them.
And no Other occupied the clearing with them.
Frowning, Seth surveyed his surroundings.
The earth around them curved upward on all sides into rolling hills as if he and Zach stood in the center of a large, grassy bowl. No trees rose from the ground to block the light of the moon that offered them muted light. Not until one’s gaze reached the tops of the hills. There, trees erupted into forest so dense that even Seth’s sharp eyes couldn’t penetrate it.
Something rustled in the grass that teased their knees. Some tiny nocturnal creature out looking for a snack.
Seth looked at Zach.
“He’s here,” Zach murmured, his brows drawn down as he scrutinized every shadow. “I know he is. I followed him here and he hasn’t teleported away yet. I just can’t find him.”
Both he and Zach had been there before . . . under rather tense circumstances. At the time, their renewed friendship had not yet solidified. Distrust had still racked them. So much so that Zach had thought Seth intended to hand him over to the Others.
“Coincidence?” Seth asked Zach.
“I think not.”
Seth agreed.
Do you sense anyone’s presence? Zach asked him telepathically to prevent the Other from hearing.
Yes, but it’s faint . . . as though he’s trying to mask it but hasn’t quite mastered that talent yet. Either that or he’s too weary from his attempts to elude you to keep it up much longer. “Show yourself !” Seth bellowed, almost wishing they had Ami with them to point the way.
Zach looked at him and arched a brow.
Seth shrugged. No harm in trying the direct route.
The constant serenade of nocturnal creatures fell silent.
A disembodied voice wafted on the breeze. “I believe you once called this place neutral territory.”
Again Seth and Zach shared a look.
Seth had told Zach as much the night he had brought Zach here to inform the Others that one of their own had lost his fucking mind.
“I did say that,” Seth acknowledged.
“Then I trust you will not launch an attack when I show myself,” the voice posed.
Do you recognize his voice? Seth asked Zach.
It’s one of the Others, Zach said, I just can’t place it. I think he’s altered his voice to keep me from identifying him.
“Gentlemen?” the Other pressed.
“We shall endeavor to restrain ourselves,” Zach responded, his own voice rife with sarcasm. Apparently he, too, would make no promises.
“I suppose that’s as good as it’s going to get,” the Other muttered.
Dense foliage on the north ridge parted as a dark figure emerged from the forest.
Zach tensed.
Not yet, Seth cautioned. It could be a trap. The fact that they didn’t sense Gershom didn’t mean that one wasn’t present, as well.
The Other took his time, descending the hillside and strolling toward them as if it were a lazy Sunday afternoon and he were just out for a stroll.
Testing their resolve, perhaps.
The Other stood about Seth’s height—six foot eight—and wore black leather pants similar to Zach’s, boots, and no shirt. Dark wings bracketed his body, their tips brushing the weeds and prairie grass and setting them into motion with each step he took.
As soon as Seth could make out his features, he swore.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Zach growled and lunged forward.
Seth threw a hand out and gripped Zach’s arm to keep him from tearing into the Other. Let us ensure he is alone first. If he’s in league with Gershom . . .
Well, he and Zach would have their hands full and might have to call in reinforcements.
Zach stopped, eyes blazing a vibrant gold, every muscle tense and poised to strike.
Seth was none too pleased himself.
Jared halted a few yards away. Eyeing Zach, he arched a brow. “Hello, cousin.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Zach roared again.
Jared was one of the Others who had tortured Zach for straying from the path and interfering in mortal affairs. For aiding Seth and his Immortal Guardians, in fact.
Seth didn’t blame Zach for wanting to gut the man.
“You fucking tortured me for daring to tell Seth that his cell phone was broken and that his Immortal Guardians needed him, then tortured me again for months just for talking to him, then you pull the shit you did tonight?” Zach shouted. “What the fuck was that if not interfering in mortal affairs? You tried to harm Ami’s baby!”
“I wasn’t there to harm the baby,” Jared denied placidly.
“Bullshit!” Zach took a menacing step toward the Other.
Seth kept a tight grip on Zach’s arm.
Jared looked to Seth. “Can’t you keep him under control better than that?”
Seth offered him a grim smile. “I’m only keeping him under control because I want to kill you myself.”
That arrow hit its mark. Something flickered in Jared’s dark brown eyes. All present knew that if it came down to a battle between Seth and Jared, Seth would be the victor.
Jared shifted his stance slightly. “I wasn’t there to harm the baby.”
“Bullshit!”
“Zach,” Seth reprimanded. He wasn’t getting any deception vibes from Jared and wanted to hear what the man had to say.
Yes, Seth wanted to kick Jared’s ass and was struggling to hold his own furious temper in check. But Seth had falsely accused three different immortals of betrayal the previous year. The evidence had driven him to do it, distasteful though he had found it. And the evidence had misled him. Seth had learned a hard lesson not to take things at face value.
Zach clamped his lips shut.
“I wasn’t there to harm the baby,” Jared repeated. “I was there to protect her. I would’ve stayed to protect Amiriska, too, when she arrived, but she moved to attack me and I didn’t wish to restrain her.”